🖼 Reply to “Pictures and nothing else” thread_2020_summer

b264 · August 17, 2020, 5:06am

No; I applied 3.0V

fessyfoo · August 17, 2020, 5:07am

Let me know what you figure out. I had high hopes it can handle 4.2v. would keep extra parts out. I mean I think it’s doing a step up to AC 50+ volts I think for the EL tape so I’m betting whatever it’s using has an input range as they usually do. ( guessing broadly)

b264 · August 17, 2020, 5:09am

Even if not, this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FSLGPR8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AIBNJ5GST7WEZ&psc=1

edit: oh sorry that’s 2S only, not 1S

b264 · August 17, 2020, 5:10am

I’d bet 75% that if you try it, it will work fine

Nacho · August 17, 2020, 5:11am

Awesome helmet

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:14am

What extra parts? I opened mine today for the wiring. These nothing in there one small pcb and the battery compartment

b264 · August 17, 2020, 5:14am

I’m having a difficult time finding these, and the Geek site is like totally useless, there is no search or anything.

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:14am

I just use the geek app

fessyfoo · August 17, 2020, 5:15am

I meant having to use a an extra buck converter.

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:15am

Mustn’t forget Chinese Google Fu is harder
They call em led lights

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:18am

I just want them to be brighter. Like being able to see them in daylight bright

fessyfoo · August 17, 2020, 5:20am

yes… me too. ;). idk if that’ll be the case with just upping the input voltage though. i have my doubts.

but figure it out. do it. tell me what to do.

b264 · August 17, 2020, 5:20am

OMG this whole time I thought the mohawk had EL strips on it. I was so confused

thank you.

The mohawk is only reflective

These are much easier to source

https://www.amazon.com/Jahyshow-Motorcycle-Helmet-Flashing-Sticker/dp/B07VJL4BD1/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=electroluminescent+helmet&qid=1597641864&sr=8-5

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:22am

Yep
I actually installed the stickers today. Received them 2 weeks ago but told myself “these look like shit and theres no reflective material in them, Amazon return it is” but forgot to send em off. Just took a picture for the strips, forgot to turn off the flash and went “HOLY FUCKING CHRIST IM BLIND”

fessyfoo · August 17, 2020, 5:24am

guilty as well. haha.

fessyfoo · August 17, 2020, 5:27am

El wire and tape are capacitive devices that run on AC voltage and can be driven with 50V RMS to ~ 200V RMS.

The driver converts battery DC Voltage, 1.5, 3, 12, what have you, to typically 100V AC.

The brightness is proportional to the voltage that comes out of the driver, not the battery.

Brightness is also proportional to the frequency of the AC voltage from the driver. 60 - 2000 Hz is the usual range. Most drivers run 2KHz.

You should try and find a new driver that runs high voltage and high frequencies to boost brightness.

Also, connect your tape strips in series. They are capacitors after all and running them in parallel increases impedance. Opposite of resistors

– https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/cksaym/how_to_increase_brightness_of_el_wiretape/

@Flasher we’re gonna need a better driver.

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:33am

Fack

Flasher · August 17, 2020, 5:54am

I’m gonna make a run to my local led shop tmrw. Just saw he has a 12v inverter (third item in pic)
That could make it interesting.

fessyfoo · August 17, 2020, 6:03am

it looks like the same part.

hmm. I think ours is already running at 2k hz. because that’s the sound it makes. and I just naively measured AC voltage from it and I’m getting 140v. so… if it’s linear to voltage perhaps another inverter can get to 200v and do 42% brighter?? again guessing.

b264 · August 17, 2020, 6:21am

The measurement of a square wave may not be correct using a multimeter set to AC RMS. It might be, but likely not.